Man wins lottery on the day he becomes US citizen

techs

Lifer
Sep 26, 2000
28,559
4
0
Bittok chose to receive his winnings in 25 annual payments of about $52,920 after taxes

Foreigner mistake.
 

zainali

Golden Member
Jun 18, 2003
1,687
0
76
Originally posted by: techs
Bittok chose to receive his winnings in 25 annual payments of about $52,920 after taxes

Foreigner mistake.

more like his choice is still from a foreign perspective.
 

rh71

No Lifer
Aug 28, 2001
52,844
1,049
126
Originally posted by: techs
Bittok chose to receive his winnings in 25 annual payments of about $52,920 after taxes

Foreigner mistake.
I know why I'd want the lump sum (pretty much greed), but why would taking the annual payments be a mistake ? Is it because of inflation ?
 

mchammer187

Diamond Member
Nov 26, 2000
9,114
0
76
Originally posted by: rh71
Originally posted by: techs
Bittok chose to receive his winnings in 25 annual payments of about $52,920 after taxes

Foreigner mistake.
I know why I'd want the lump sum (pretty much greed), but why would taking the annual payments be a mistake ? Is it because of inflation ?

because if you take the lump sum and invest it you are going to end up way ahead

even at a 4% return which you can get anywhere with zero risk
 

rh71

No Lifer
Aug 28, 2001
52,844
1,049
126
Originally posted by: mchammer187
Originally posted by: rh71
Originally posted by: techs
Bittok chose to receive his winnings in 25 annual payments of about $52,920 after taxes

Foreigner mistake.
I know why I'd want the lump sum (pretty much greed), but why would taking the annual payments be a mistake ? Is it because of inflation ?

because if you take the lump sum and invest it you are going to end up way ahead

even at a 4% return which you can get anywhere with zero risk
is that way ahead of just the annual payments (well yes that's true) or way ahead of lump sum pre-tax ?
 

mchammer187

Diamond Member
Nov 26, 2000
9,114
0
76
Originally posted by: rh71
Originally posted by: mchammer187
Originally posted by: rh71
Originally posted by: techs
Bittok chose to receive his winnings in 25 annual payments of about $52,920 after taxes

Foreigner mistake.
I know why I'd want the lump sum (pretty much greed), but why would taking the annual payments be a mistake ? Is it because of inflation ?

because if you take the lump sum and invest it you are going to end up way ahead

even at a 4% return which you can get anywhere with zero risk
is that way ahead of just the annual payments (well yes that's true) or way ahead of lump sum pre-tax ?

way ahead of annual payments
 

Vette73

Lifer
Jul 5, 2000
21,503
9
0
Originally posted by: mchammer187
Originally posted by: rh71
Originally posted by: mchammer187
Originally posted by: rh71
Originally posted by: techs
Bittok chose to receive his winnings in 25 annual payments of about $52,920 after taxes

Foreigner mistake.
I know why I'd want the lump sum (pretty much greed), but why would taking the annual payments be a mistake ? Is it because of inflation ?

because if you take the lump sum and invest it you are going to end up way ahead

even at a 4% return which you can get anywhere with zero risk
is that way ahead of just the annual payments (well yes that's true) or way ahead of lump sum pre-tax ?

way ahead of annual payments


Yes you can make more by takeing the lump sum. BUT in this case, he did the right thing. It keeps the money out of his hands (and wifes) and if any distant relatives come forward, well to bad. he also is probable not to smart in money so the lump sum would be gone in no time and he be another lottery joke/story.

 

Freejack2

Diamond Member
Dec 31, 2000
7,751
8
91
Considering I have a better chance of getting hit by lightning 3 times than winning the lottery, I'm not going to waste much money on it.
 

dullard

Elite Member
May 21, 2001
25,987
4,596
126
Originally posted by: techs
Bittok chose to receive his winnings in 25 annual payments of about $52,920 after taxes

Foreigner mistake.
Nope, good sound logic to take the annual payments. A large percentage of lottery winners go bankrupt later in life. Why? Since they overspend, get hooked on the spending, and cannot stop. It is just human nature. This way he will have money for life and never have any worries. He can't overspend since he doesn't have it. He can't be hit up by friends/relatives begging for cash since he doesn't have it. Plus tax on $50k a year is 15% for a married couple, far less than the 35% tax rate on $1.89 million in one year.

In an ideal world, it may have been better to get the lump sum. But not in the real world (for most people).
 

HumblePie

Lifer
Oct 30, 2000
14,665
440
126
ouch, 25 x 52,920 = 1,323,000

So while he won 1.89 mil he has $567,000 in taxes? Does that seem a little high or insane to anyone else? That looks frikkin crazy!